Second Quarter Vocab - Lang

Prepossessing

(adjective)

• attractive or appealing in appearance

• He was not a ____ sight

Ineffectual

(adjective)

• not producing any or desired effect

• Despite his enthusiasm, his attempts to fix the problem were completely ____

Enmity

(noun)

• the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something

• Years of rivalry had created deep ____ between the two families

Reprobate

(noun)

• an unprincipled person (often used humorously or affectionately)

• The old sailor was known as a charming ____ who always found trouble

Precarious

(adjective)

• not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse

• A ____ ladder

Sycophant

(noun)

• a person who acts obsequiously (obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree) toward someone important in order to gain advantage

• The boss surrounded himself with ____ who praised every decision he made

Sanguine

(adjective)

• optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation

• He is ____ about prospects for the global economy

Inimitable

(adjective)

• so good or unusual as to be impossible to copy; unique

• Her ____ style made her stand out in every room she entered

Capricious

(adjective)

• given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

• The child’s ____ moods kept the parents constantly on their toes

Epiphany

(noun)

• a moment of sudden revelation or insight

• In the middle of the lecture, she had an ____ that completely changed her career plans

Cant

(noun)

• hypocritical and sanctimonious talk, typically of a moral, religious, or political nature

• He had no time for the ____ of the priests about sin

Autocratic

(adjective)

• relating to a ruler who has absolute power

• The country was ruled by an ____ regime that allowed no dissent

Immutable

(adjective)

• unchanging over time or unable to be changed

• The laws of physics are ____ and cannot be changed by human opinion

Macabre

(adjective)

• disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury

• The haunted house was filled with ____ decorations, from skulls to lifelike corpses

Virulent

(adjective)

• (of a disease or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects

  • The virus became more ____, spreading rapidly through the population

• bitterly hostile

  • His involvement with the temperance movement led to his ____ attack on the drink trade

Bourgeois

(adjective)

• of or characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes

• They lived in a ____ neighborhood known for its neat lawns and quiet streets

Implacable

(adjective)

• unable to make less angry or hostile

• Despite their apologies, she remained ____, refusing to forgive them

Apoplexy/Apoplectic

(noun)

• incapacity or speechlessness caused by extreme anger

(adjective)

• overcome with anger; extremely indignant

• Mark was ____ with rage at the decision

Ethereal

(adjective)

• extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world

• She moved with an ____ grace, almost as if she were floating

Dissimulate

(verb)

• to conceal or disguise (one's thoughts, feelings, or character)

• A country gentleman who ____ his wealth beneath ragged pullovers

Quizzical

adjective

• (of a person's expression or behavior) indicating mild or amused puzzlement

• She gave him a ____ look, unsure what he meant by his comment

Palaver

(noun)

• unnecessarily elaborate or complex procedure

• Getting a simple permit turned into a whole ____ involving forms and signatures

(verb)

• talk unproductively and at length

• They ____ on the porch for half the afternoon

Ulterior

(adjective)

• existing beyond what is obvious or admitted; intentionally hidden

• He offered to help, but I suspected he had an ____ motive

Irrevocable

(adjective)

• not able to be changed, reversed, or recovered; final

• The court ruled that the decision was final and ____

Dialectic

(noun)

• the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions

• The lifeblood of the liberal arts is debate, ____, inquiry, and challenge

Ramshackle

(adjective)

• (especially of a house or vehicle) in a state of severe disrepair

• They lived in a ____ house that leaned dangerously to one side

Incipient

(adjective)

• in an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop

• He could feel ____ anger building up